Microscopic morphology

Hyphae are septate and hyaline. Conidial heads are strongly columnar in an undisturbed culture. Conidiophores are smooth-walled, uncolored, up to 300 µm long, and terminate in a dome-shaped vesicle that is 20- 30 µm in diameter. This species is uniseriate with closely compacted phialides (5-10 x 2-3 µm) occurring only on the upper portion of the vesicle. Conidia are smooth to finely roughened, subglobose, 2-3.5 µm in diameter [2202], [1875], [1215], [531].

Special notes

This species is the most common agent of aspergillosis in both man and animals. It is a thermophilic species (growth at 40°C and beyond) that may be extremely angioinvasive, particularly in the compromised patient. Hyphae in tissue may or may not display 45° angle branching. Fruiting heads may be seen in air cavities in the lung.